US20030096667A1

US20030096667A1 - Apparatus for providing a controlled propulsion of elements toward a receiving member

Info

Publication number: US20030096667A1
Application number: US09/778,193
Authority: US
Inventors: Karen Gottlieb-Myers; Dale Fetterleigh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-07
Filing date: 2001-02-07
Publication date: 2003-05-22

Abstract

A manually operated switch on a member (e.g. baseball bat) provides, when closed, for a signal transmission by a transmitter in the member to propulsion apparatus. The propulsion apparatus includes a receiver and a housing which has a hollow passage and supports a ramp. The ramp holds elements (e.g. balls) which are sequentially released into the passage when a detainer is rotated by a release mechanism. The release mechanism is actuated when a receiver in the housing receives signals from the transmitter. When released, the element then moves downwardly in the passage to a propulsion mechanism which may include a pair of rollers for gripping the opposite ends of the element. The rollers are actuated by motors connected in circuits with an energy source (e.g. battery) and variable impedances (e.g. rheostats). The impedance values change in accordance with the manual operation of a knob in the housing exterior. Changes in the impedance values cause the motor speeds to change thereby, varying the speed at which the elements are propelled by the propulsion mechanism toward the batter. The motors are energized only when the element is released into the passage, thereby prolonging the battery life.

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for providing an individual with an opportunity to practice receiving an element. For example, the invention relates to apparatus which propels balls toward a batter so that the batter can practice hitting the propelled balls. The invention is particularly advantageous because the batter can control when the ball is propelled toward the batter and the batter can control the speed at which the ball is propelled toward the batter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many youngsters are interested in improving their skills in hitting a baseball. Because of this, machines have been provided on a commercial basis for pitching balls to a batter. The batter positions himself or herself in a batting cage and the machine then transmits a plurality of balls in sequence to the batter. The batter pays for this by inserting coins into a coin box or by paying a cashier.

There are at least three (3) problems with the arrangement described in the previous paragraph. One problem is that the batter cannot control when successive balls are propelled to the batter by the pitching machine. Another problem is that the batter has to travel to the site of the pitching machine. This is an inconvenience to the batter. A third disadvantage is that the pitching machines propel the balls at a high velocity toward the batter. This may be advantageous to teenagers and adults but it is not advantageous to pre-teenagers.

Co-pending application Ser. No. 09/231,195 (attorney's File SPFUN-50252) filed on Jan. 14, 1999 in the names of Mark J. Rappaport and Jose E. Leal as joint inventors for Apparatus For Providing a Controlled Propulsion of Elements Toward a Receiving Member and licensed by the inventors to the assignee of record of this application has been allowed by the United States Patent Office. Co-pending application Ser. No. 09/231,195 discloses a member (e.g., a bat) and propulsion apparatus. The bat includes a switch on the bat and a transmitter in the bat.

When the batter closes the switch in the embodiment disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 09/231,195, the transmitter sends signals to the propulsion apparatus. A receiver in the propulsion apparatus causes an element (e.g. a ball) in the propulsion apparatus to be released and to be propelled by the propulsion apparatus toward the batter so that the batter can hit the ball.

Actually, a plurality of elements are disposed on a ramp in the propulsion apparatus disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 09/231,195. Every time that the switch in the bat is closed, a progressive one of the elements in the ramp is released and propelled by the propulsion apparatus towards the batter. Each ball is propelled toward the batter at a substantially constant speed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an apparatus for overcoming the disadvantages discussed in the previous paragraphs. The invention constitutes an improvement in the apparatus disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 09/231,195. The apparatus of this invention provides for control by an individual (e.g. a batter) of the times when a machine propels an element (e.g. a ball) for operation of a member (e.g. a bat) by the individual (e.g. batter). The apparatus of this invention is portable even by pre-teenagers so that the individual operating the member (e.g. the bat) can practice anywhere including the individual's backyard or a friend's backyard. The apparatus of this invention is especially designed to be used by pre-teenagers.

Although a pitching machine is shown in the drawings to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments are within the scope of the invention. For example, the apparatus of this invention can be adapted to propel hockey pucks to a player holding a hockey stick or to propel lacrosse balls to a player holding a lacrosse stick.

When the batter closes the switch in application Ser. No. 09/231,195, the transmitter sends signals to the propulsion apparatus. A receiver in the propulsion apparatus causes an element in the propulsion apparatus to be released and to be propelled by the propulsion apparatus toward the batter so that the batter can hit the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a manually operable switch on a member (e.g. baseball bat) provides, when closed, for a signal transmission by a transmitter in the member to propulsion apparatus. The propulsion apparatus includes a housing which has a hollow passage and supports a ramp. The ramp holds elements which are sequentially released into the passage when a detainer is rotated by a release mechanism. The release mechanism is actuated when a receiver in the housing receives signals from the transmitter. When released, the element then moves downwardly in the passage to a propulsion mechanism which may include a pair of rollers for gripping the opposite ends of the element.

The apparatus includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted signals and includes a housing with a hollow passage. A ramp supported on the housing holds a plurality of the elements for sequential movement into the passage. The element in the passage is supported on one of the fingers of a rotary detainer. The detainer is normally prevented from rotating by a release mechanism coupled to the detainer.

The detainer is rotated by the weight of the element when the release mechanism is decoupled from the detainer upon the reception of the transmitted signals. The element then moves downwardly in the passage to a propulsion mechanism which may comprise a pair of rollers for gripping the opposite ends of the element. The rollers are actuated by motors connected in a circuit with a transportable energy source (e.g. battery) and a variable impedance (e.g. a rheostat) so that the motors are energized only when a ball is disposed on a finger in the detainer, thereby prolonging battery life.

The element is propelled by the propulsion mechanism toward the individual holding the member so that the individual can practice receiving the element (e.g. hitting the ball). The trajectory of the propelled ball can be adjusted by pivoting the housing relative to a base member which supports the housing and which holds the battery. The speed of the element in moving toward the batter can be adjusted by changing the value of the rheostat. The value of the rheostat can be changed by adjusting the position of a knob on the exterior of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings: [0014]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of (1) a baseball bat and the hands of an individual swinging the bat to hit a ball propelled toward the bat, (2) pitching apparatus for propelling the ball toward the bat and (3) the movement of the ball from the pitching apparatus toward the bat; [0015]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view in elevation of the pitching apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as seen from a position in front of the apparatus; [0016]
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the pitching apparatus as seen from a position to one side of the apparatus; [0017]
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view in elevation of the bat and includes a switch manually operable to provide for a transmission of signals from the bat to the pitching apparatus; [0018]
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a transmitter in the bat for transmitting signals to the pitching apparatus upon the closure of the switch in FIG. 4 and a block diagram of a receiver in the pitching apparatus for receiving the signals transmitted from the bat and for activating the pitching machine to propel a ball toward the bat; and [0019]
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for activating motors in the pitching apparatus with a variable amount of energy when a ball is disposed in the pitching apparatus, thereby providing for the propulsion of the ball from the pitching apparatus at a variable speed when the receiver receives signals from the transmitter.[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, apparatus generally indicated at [0021] 10 (FIG. 1) is provided for propelling a ball 12 toward a bat generally indicated at 14. The ball 12 may be a hard or a soft ball generally provided for baseball games. Preferably the ball is a hollow plastic ball having a light weight and constructed to limit the speed of the ball and the distance of travel of the ball. This ball is advantageous when the hitter is a child generally less than ten (10) years old.
A switch [0022] 16 (FIG. 4) is provided on the bat 14, preferably at a position above the positions on the handle portion where the batter's hands 18 (FIG. 1) grip the bat when the batter is swinging at the ball 12. The switch 16 is pressed by the batter when the batter desires to have the apparatus 10 propel the ball 12 toward the batter.
A transmitter generally indicated at [0023] 20 in FIG. 5 is disposed in the bat 14 to transmit signals to the pitching apparatus 10 for obtaining the propulsion of the ball 12 by the pitching apparatus toward the bat 14. In one embodiment, the transmitter 20 may include an oscillator 22 for producing signals at a particular frequency such as approximately thirty-two megahertz (32 MHz). The oscillator 22 may be crystal controlled.
The signals from the [0024] oscillator 22 may be amplified at 24 and the amplified signals may be introduced to an antenna 26 which may be provided with an impedance preferably matching the impedance of the amplifier 24. An energy source such as a battery 28 (FIG. 4) may be removably disposed in the bottom 30 of the bat to energize the transmitter 20.
A receiver generally indicated at [0025] 32 in FIG. 5 may be disposed in the pitching apparatus 10 to receive the signals transmitted from the bat 14. The receiver 32 may include an antenna 34 which may be in the form of a coil. Since the receiver 32 includes the antenna 34, the signals are received on a wireless basis by the receiver. Amplifiers 36 may be provided to amplify the received signals. Since the signals are transmitted by the antenna 26, they are transmitted on a wireless basis. The amplified signals may then be mixed at 38 and the mixed signals may then be detected at 40 to recover the signals at thirty-two megahertz (32 Mhz). The detected signals may then be introduced to a driver 42.
The [0026] apparatus 10 includes a base member 50 (FIGS. 1-3) and a housing 52 pivotably attached on a horizontal axis to the base member as at 54. The base member is adapted to be supported on a support surface such as the ground. The base member 54 is adapted to hold a transportable energy source such as a battery 56.
The [0027] housing 52 is provided with a hollow passage 58. Holes 60 may be provided in the housing 52 at progressive positions along the passage 58, primarily for aesthetic purposes. The ball 12 is adapted to be disposed in the hollow passage 58 against a plurality of annularly spaced fingers 62 in a rotatable detainer 64 disposed in the housing 52 and having a shape such as a star wheel. The detainer 64 is normally engaged by a release mechanism 65 which is actuated to be withdrawn from engagement with the detainer when a solenoid 66 is energized.
The [0028] hollow passage 58 is initially disposed vertically and is progressively curved at progressive downward positions to have a horizontal disposition. A pair of pockets 70 are disposed in the housing 52 at the opposite sides of the housing at positions where the hollow passage 58 is substantially horizontal. A motor 74 and an actuator such as a roller 76 are disposed in each of the pockets 70. A pair of motors 74 and a pair of actuators such as rollers 76 are provided.
The [0029] motor 74 and the roller 76 in each individual one of the pockets 70 are operatively coupled to each other to provide a rotation of the roller in accordance with the energizing of the motor. The rollers 76 are preferably made from a resilient material and are preferably extended into the hollow passage 58 to grip the opposite ends of the ball 12 in the passage and to propel the ball from the passage in accordance with the rotation of the rollers. The motors 74 and the rollers 76 may be considered as a propulsion mechanism.
The [0030] battery 56 and the motors 74 are disposed in a series circuit (FIG. 6) with a normally open switch 78. The switch 78 becomes closed when the ball 12 is disposed on one of the fingers 62 of the detainer 64. The closure of the switch 78 at such time results from the fact that each finger 62 has some play in its positioning. This causes each finger 62 to be disposed upwardly, with no ball on the finger, from the position which it occupies when the ball 12 is disposed on the finger. In the upward position of the finger 62, the switch 78 is open.
A rheostat generally indicated at [0031] 77 is also included in the circuit in series with the battery 50, one of the motors 74 and the switch 78. The rheostat 77 has a movable arm 79 which short circuits a portion of a resistance 80 forming a part of the rheostat 77. Depending upon the portion of the resistance 80 that is short circuited, the rheostat controls or limits the amount of power provided by the motor 74 in the circuit. The motor 74 in the circuit receives the maximum amount of power when the resistance 80 is completely short circuited in the movable arm 79. The motor 74 in the circuit receives the minimum amount of power when the resistance 80 is not shorted at all. It will be appreciated that, although one circuit is shown in FIG. 6, two (2) identical circuits are provided, an individual one for each of the motors 74.
A control member such as a knob [0032] 81 (FIG. 1) is disposed externally on the housing 52, preferably at a position near one of the motors 74 or at a position between, preferably on a equidistant basis between, the motors. The knob is movable such as rotatably to provide a control over the shorting of the rheostats 79. The movement of the knob 81 accordingly controls the amount of energization that the motors 74 receive.
In this way, the [0033] motors 74 are energized only when the ball 12 is in the hollow passage 58 in a position to be propelled from the hollow passage when a signal from the transmitter 20 is received by the receiver 32. Furthermore, energy is conserved in the battery 56 to prolong the life of the battery since the battery provides energy to the motors 74 only when the ball 12 is disposed in the hollow passage 58.
The [0034] housing 52 is provided at its top end with a stanchion. A tube 82 forming a part of a ramp generally indicated at 84 fits snugly on the stanchion in a removable relationship to the stanchion. The ramp 84 defines an inclined track 86 extending in a spiral path to a position at its bottom end above the hollow passage 58. A plurality of the balls 12 are disposed on the track 86 for a movement of each ball in sequence into the hollow passage 58 when the ball previously in the hollow passage is propelled by the rollers 76 from the passage toward the batter holding the bat 14.
Assume that the [0035] ramp 84 is disposed on the stanchion at the top of the housing 52 and that one of the balls 12 on the track 86 has dropped into the hollow passage 58 for disposition on the finger 62 extending into the hollow passage. This causes the finger 62 on the detainer 64 to be positioned to close the switch 78 in FIG. 6 and the motors 74 to be energized. The resultant rotation of the rollers 76 provides for the propulsion of the ball from the hollow passage 58 when the ball is released by the detainer 64.
When the batter manually closes the [0036] switch 16 in FIG. 4, signals are transmitted by the transmitter 20 in FIG. 5 to the receiver 32 in FIG. 5. This causes the solenoid 66 (FIG. 3) to be energized and the release mechanism 65 to be retracted from the detainer 64. The detainer 64 is now free to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the ball 12 on the finger 62. This rotation frees the ball 12 to move downwardly in the hollow passage 58 to a position between the rollers 76. Since the rollers 76 are already being rotated by the motors 74, the rollers propel the ball 12 from the hollow passage toward the batter when the ball reaches the rollers. The amount of force imposed by the rollers 76 against the ball 12 is dependent upon the setting of the knob 81. At the same time that the ball 12 is dropping through the hollow passage 58, the next ball on the track 86 drops into the hollow passage for disposition against one of the fingers 62.
The apparatus described above has been disclosed with reference to a pitching machine for baseball. It is believed that a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able with little or no experimentation to adapt the apparatus for other uses. For example, it is believed that a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to adapt the invention for use by a hockey player or for use by a lacrosse player. [0037]
Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments which will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims. [0038]

Claims

1. In combination for propelling an element,

a propulsion member having an outer periphery constructed to receive the propelled element and manually operable to impose a force by the member against the element for propelling the element, and

an apparatus for propelling the element toward the propulsion member for the manual operation of the propulsion member to impose the force on the element, the apparatus being separated from the member,

the propulsion member including a switch actuatable from the outer periphery of the member and a signal transmitter disposed in the member and normally not energized and energizable in response to an actuation of the switch, before a propulsion of the element from the apparatus and before any movement of the member to strike the element, to send signals on a wireless basis to the apparatus for obtaining the propulsion of the element from the apparatus,

the apparatus including a receiver, normally inoperative, disposed in the apparatus for receiving the signals on the wireless basis from the member, the apparatus being constructed to hold the element and being inoperative until the reception of the signals on the wireless basis by the receiver from the member and being operative upon the reception of the signals on the wireless basis by the receiver from the member to release the element for propulsion by the propulsion member, the apparatus including motors, normally inoperative, responsive to the release of the element to become energized for grasping the element and propelling the element toward the member and including control members operatively coupled to the motors for controlling the speed of the motors in propelling the element toward the propulsion members, the apparatus further including a movable member supported by the apparatus externally of the apparatus for manual operation to control the speed of the motors, in accordance with the movement of the movable member, in propelling the element toward the member.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the apparatus including a housing,

the movable member being disposed externally on the housing for manual operation and extending through the housing,

the control members being disposed in the housing and being operatively coupled to the movable member for providing variable impedance values in accordance with the manual operation of the movable member,

the control members being connected in electrical circuitry with the motors for energizing the motors in accordance with the variable impedance values of the control members.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the apparatus including a hollow passage for holding the element and including a propulsion mechanism for propelling the element from the hollow passage and including a releasable detainer for holding the element within the hollow passage in decoupled relationship to the propulsion mechanism,

the detainer being responsive to the signals received by the receiver from the propulsion member for releasing the element to the propulsion mechanism for propulsion by the propulsion mechanism through the hollow passage toward the propulsion member.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 2,

the detainer being responsive to the signals received by the receiver from the propulsion member for releasing the element to the propulsion mechanism for propulsion by the propulsion mechanism through the hollow passage toward the propulsion member,

the propulsion apparatus including rollers for gripping the element at opposite ends of the element after the release of the element by the detainers and for rotating the element to propel the element from the propulsion mechanism toward the member, the rollers being operatively coupled to the motors to be rotated by the rollers.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein

a switch having open and closed states is disposed in the housing and is normally in the open state and is operatively coupled to the detainer to become operative in the closed state when the element is disposed in the passage, the switch being included in the electrical circuitry with the motors and the impedances to provide for an operation of the motors only when the element is in the passage.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5,

a base member pivotably coupled to the housing for providing a pivotable adjustment in the position of the housing relative to the base member for providing an adjustment in the trajectory of the element in accordance with the pivotal adjustment in the position of the housing relative to the base member, and

an energy storage member disposed in the base member and connected in the electrical circuitry with the motors and the variable impedance for energizing the motors when the switch is closed.

7. In combination for propelling an element,

a member having an external periphery and manually operable to impose a force against the element, the member including a switch manually operable from the external periphery of the member and having first and second states of operation and normally disposed in the first state of operation and manually operable at the external periphery of the member to the second state of operation before any movement of the member to impose a force against the element, and the member including a transmitter disposed in the member and inoperable with the switch in the first state of operation and responsive to the manual operation of the switch to the second state of operation to transmit signals on a wireless basis, and

apparatus spaced from the member and including a receiver, normally inoperative, disposed in the apparatus and operative to receive the signals on the wireless basis from the transmitter and including a propulsion mechanism normally inoperative and responsive to the signals received on the wireless basis by the receiver from the transmitter for propelling the element toward the manually operable member to obtain an imposition by the member of the force against the element,

the apparatus including a housing for the propulsion mechanism and including electrical impedances in the housing and including a knob disposed externally on the housing and coupled to the electrical impedances and manually operative from the position external to the housing for varying the value of the electrical impedances in accordance with the manual operation of the knob, the motors being connected in electrical circuitry with the electrical impedances to receive an excitation which is variable in accordance with the variations in the values of the impedances.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 7,

the apparatus including a hollow passage for receiving the element and including a detainer disposed in the hollow passage for detaining the element within the hollow passage and including a release mechanism responsive to the signals received by the receiver from the member for operating upon the detainer to provide for a release of the element by the detainer from the hollow passage and for a propulsion of the element by the propulsion mechanism from the hollow passage toward the member, and

a switch disposed in the apparatus and having first and second states and normally operative in the first state and responsive to the disposition of the element in the passage to become operative in the second state,

the switch being included in the electrical circuitry with the motors and the variable electrical impedances to obtain an energizing of the motors in the second state of the switch in accordance with the variations in the values of the electrical impedances.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 8,

an energy storage member disposed in the housing and connected in the electrical circuitry with the switch and the motors and the variable electrical impedances for energizing the motors when the switch becomes operative in the second state.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein,

the detainer has first and second positions and wherein the detainer is disposed in the first position to prevent the element from being propelled from the hollow passage and wherein the detainer is disposed in the second position to provide for the propulsion of the element from the hollow passage and wherein the propulsion mechanism is electrically decoupled from the energy storage member with the detainer in the first position and is electrically coupled to the energy storage member with the detainer in the second position to provide for a propulsion of the element by the propulsion mechanism from the hollow passage and wherein

an inclined ramp is constructed to hold a plurality of the elements in an inclined and stacked relationship and is disposed relative to the hollow passage for sequentially introducing the elements on the ramp into the hollow passage in accordance with the sequential propulsion of the elements from the hollow passage.

11. In combination,

a member manually operable to transmit signals on a wireless basis for obtaining a propulsion of an element toward the member and to impose a force against the element for propelling the element,

a housing,

a receiver disposed in the housing for receiving the signals transmitted on the wireless basis from the manually operable member,

there being a hollow passage in the housing for receiving the element,

a detainer disposed in the housing and movable between first and second positions in accordance with the disposition of the element in the hollow passage and normally operable in the first position to retain the element in the hollow passage and actuatable to the second position to provide for a release of the element by the detainer for a movement of the element through the hollow passage,

a release mechanism disposed in the housing and responsive to the signals received on the wireless basis by the receiver from the manually operable member to actuate the detainer from the first position to the second position,

a propulsion mechanism disposed in the housing for propelling the element from the hollow passage toward the manually operable member when the element is released by the detainer upon the actuation of the detainer from the first position to the second position,

a variable control member disposed in the housing for providing variations in the force imposed by the propulsion mechanism against the element in accordance with the variations in the control member, and

a manually operable knob disposed on the housing and operably coupled to the variable control member for providing variations in the control member in accordance with the manual operation of the knob.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

the propulsion mechanism including a motor and the variable control member connected in electrical circuitry to provide for variations in the energizing of the motor in accordance with variations in the control member.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

the propulsion mechanism including an energy storage member and a pair of motors and a pair of the control members each variable in accordance with the manual operation of the knob and each connected in electrical circuitry with the energy storage member and an individual one of the motors to provide an energizing of the individual one of the motors in accordance with the variations in the control member.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

a base member,

the energy storage member being releasably disposed in the base member for activating the propulsion mechanism when a signal is received by the receiver from the manually operable member,

the housing being pivotably coupled to the base member to adjust the trajectory of the element propelled by the propulsion mechanism from the housing.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

the propulsion mechanism including motors providing driving forces in accordance with excitations imparted to the motors and including the control members connected in electrical circuitry with the motors and having impedance values variable in response to the manual operation of the knob for varying the excitations imparted to the motors in accordance with variations in the impedance values.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 15,

a ramp disposed on the housing in a cooperative relationship with the detainer for holding a plurality of the elements for a sequential passage of each of the elements into the housing to a position for a retention of the element by the detainer against movement toward the manually operable member until the element previously in the housing has been propelled by the propulsion mechanism toward the manually operable member.

17. In combination,

a member including a transmitter and including a switch manually operable to activate the transmitter for providing signals on a wireless basis for obtaining a propulsion of an element toward the member, the member being manually operable to impose a force against the element for propelling the element when the element is propelled toward the member,

a housing,

a receiver disposed in the housing for receiving the signals transmitted on the wireless basis by the transmitter in the member,

a detainer disposed in the housing for retaining the element against movement from the housing and responsive to the signals received by the receiver on the wireless basis for releasing the element for movement from the housing,

a propulsion mechanism disposed in the housing and responsive to the release of the element for propelling the element toward the manually operable member, and

a control member disposed externally of the housing and operatively coupled to the propulsion mechanism and manually operable to adjust the propulsion by the propulsion mechanism of the element toward the manually operable member.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,

motors included in the propulsion mechanism for propelling the element from the housing, and

electrical components included in the propulsion mechanism and having characteristics adjustable in accordance with the manual operation of the control member, the electrical components being operatively coupled to the motors for adjusting the propulsion provided by the motors on the element in accordance with the adjustment in the characteristics of the electrical components.

19. In a combination as set forth in claim 18,

an energy storage member disposed in the housing for providing energy to the motors to propel the element from the housing toward the manually operable member.

20. In a combination as set forth in claim 18,

a switch disposed in the housing and having first and second states and normally operative in the first state and responsive to the release of the element upon the receipt of the signals by the receiver for becoming operative to the second state, the switch being electrically associated with the motors for preventing the motors from being operated in the first state of operation of the switch and for providing for the operation of the motors in the second state of operation of the switch.

21. In a combination as set forth in claim 20,

an energy storage member disposed in the housing for providing energy to the motors to propel the element from the housing toward the manually operable member,

the energy storage member, the motors, the switch in the housing and the electrical components being included in electrical circuitry for providing a controlled operation of the motors in accordance with the operation of the switch in the second state.

22. In a combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein

the propulsion mechanism includes rollers for gripping the element at opposite ends of the element and for rotating the element to propel the element from the housing and wherein

the rollers are activated by the motors when the motors are operated.

23. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,

a ramp disposed above the housing for holding a plurality of the elements in a stacked relationship and constructed to provide a movement of each of the stacked elements in a sequence into the housing to a position for the release of the element by the detainer when the element previously in the position for retention by the detainer has been released by the detainer.

24. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,

a base member, and

a source of energy disposed in the base member for providing for the propulsion of the element by the propulsion mechanism toward the propulsion member,

the housing being pivotably coupled to the base member to adjust vertically the trajectory of the element toward the manually operable member of the element for the propulsion of the element by the member.